Alberni Valley Heritage Network
Steam trains, steam sawmill, Maritime Heritage, First Nations culture and art, the beautiful Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada is the home of a host of Heritage Tourism attractions that are educational and fun for the whole family. The Alberni Heritage Network – 4 cool attractions in one big day!
Alberni Valley Museum
Explore our heritage and discover what makes Port Alberni tick. Discover collections that tell the story of community history, Nuu Chah Nulth art and culture and our industrial roots from logging to fishing and farming - and see our unique folk art. The Alberni Valley Museum presents the cultural heritage of this unique Island community through its collections of artifacts and historic photographs.
It is considered one of the finest community museums in British Columbia. It uses a unique and experimental visible storage system to take almost the entire collection available to the visitor all the time. You can see temporary exhibits about Local and International Art, Ancient Egypt and many more over the course of the year. The Museum also offers many varied and challenging school programs for a wide range of grades. We can also help you do your research on local history or advise on heritage and preservation.
McLean Mill National Historic Site
The McLean Mill is the only steam-operated sawmill in Canada. You can experience the excitement of live steam, as the sawmill cuts wood for demonstration and sale. The "Tin Pants Theatre" troupe will entertain you with stage shows at the Nikkei Theatre and show you around the site as if you were just starting work at the mill. You'll see the old original buildings and lots of restored logging equipment around the site including a steam donkey, logging trucks, graders and lumber carriers.
Children of all ages will get a sense of the life that people led in this camp on the edge of the world. They'll hear the stories from the one-room school as well as some of the old-timers that might have been around. They can become Safety Inspectors while looking out for the wildlife that roams the grounds.
After the adventure you can have a bite to eat and visit the gift shop before getting back on board the train into town.
Alberni Pacific Railway
Come Ride the Rails on the Alberni Pacific Railway. You can board the train pulled by our completely restored 1929 Baldwin ex-logging locomotive at the 1912 CPR Station and ride out to the McLean Mill National Historic Site. The track winds through the City of Port Alberni and then the surrounding forests for 35 minutes each way. You'll be called by the sound of the steam whistle and clatter of wheels on rails.
Be careful though; the Beaufort Gang has been seen in the area and has been known to rob the train. Check out their calendar of events for the dates of the big payroll shipments to the mill. The steam train also makes a stop at the Chase and Warren Winery for a tour and tasting.
Maritime Discovery Centre
Experience the rich maritime history of the Alberni Valley, Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and Vancouver Island's rugged west coast. Port Alberni's Maritime Discovery Centre is a unique maritime museum, situated on the waterfront adjacent to the city's deep-sea harbour. Constructed from an actual coastal lighthouse, the museum is dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting our fascinating cultural, environmental and industrial maritime history.
This attraction is a must see for all who visit the Alberni Valley. It is both an educational experience and a fun, hands-on experience for all ages. Sense the raw adventure, tales of heroism and moments of mystique, grandeur and romance that tell the story of our intriguing west coast.
Other Local Heritage Sites
Rollin Art Centre
Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Rollin Art Centre features work by local & regional artists. During the summer months, afternoon Tea is served on the summer terrace of this historical home and gardens. Open year-round, visitors will enjoy its ever-changing displays, unique gift shop, and beautiful grounds.
The Capitol Theatre
If you rather watch broadway than hockey, then you'll want to make time for Port Alberni's Capitol Theatre. This vintage movie house has been completely restored and now offers live theatre, produced by Port Alberni's very own Portal Players. The Capitol Theatre also host other shows and productions throughout the year.
Martin Mars Bomber
Known as the world's largest flying boat, the Mars spread their 200 foot wingspan to provide firefighting protection throughout our region, province and beyond. During the summer, visitors may see the gigantic Martin Mars water bomber in action, thundering off to extinguish wild fires. This aircraft is capable of scooping up to 27 tons of water off the lake surface at one time. There is only 1 flying Mars Tanker left in the whole world -- home in Port Alberni (on Sproat Lake).
